Trigger protector



May 11, 1937; w. M. DRAKE TRIGGER PROTECTOR Filed May 27,- 1955 M 214'. Drake Patented May 11, 1937 ,PATET OFFICE 2,080,202 TRIGGER PROTECTOR Wilkie M. Drake, Breckenridge, Mich.

Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,781

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved trigger protector which is particularly adapted for use with rifles, shot guns, and other firearms. One. object of the invention is to provide a trigger protector which may be hingedly connected to the forward portion of a trigger guard 'in 'such 'a manner that when thegun is notin use the housing of the trigger protector will be swung to cover the guard and trigger so that accidental tampering with the trigger, with possible discharge of the firearm, will not take place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trigger protector which, when it is desired to use the firearm, may be swung for freeing the trigger guard and trigger so that unobstructed use of the trigger may be had.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will, when locked in closed or protecting position, be eifectually se- 0 cured in such position but which may be freed therefrom with a minimum amount of efiort.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a trigger protector which may be readily installed on firearms in use or which may be built into the firearms during manufacture, and which will be characterized by the utmost simplicity in structure and efiectiveness in operation.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will render themselves apparent during the course of the following description.

Referring now to the drawing forming a part of my application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a firearm with my improved trigger protector thereon and showing said protector in locked position, a portion of said protector being broken away to show the position of the trigger guard therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of my improved trigger protector in position about the trigger guard, the device being shown in open position in dotted lines and the firearm being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the trigger protector prior to installation on a firearm.

should be understood that my improved devicemay be applied to any firearm or air gun and the size of the device will be governed by the size and shape of the trigger guards of the various styles of firearms. My improved trigger protector comprises a housing 5 having parallel side walls 6 and l and a curved wall 8 which extends throughout the entire length of the device. The curved wall 8 is cut away at one end, as indicated by the numeral 9, to permit of ready swinging of the protector when in position adjacent a trigger guard. oppositely disposed openings H) are formed in the side walls 6 and 1 and a keeper plate H is formed integral with-the curved wall 8 and projects rearwardly in a horizontal plane with the corresponding upper edges of the walls 6 and I. A centrally disposed bayonet slot I2 is formed in the keeper plate and this bayonet slot is adapted to receive an L-shaped keeper l4 therein. It should be understood that the keeper is adapted to project through the bayonet slot [2 and, when in position, the lower leg of the L-shaped keeper is turned away from the narrower portion of the slot [2, receiving it therethrough, so that displacement of the device, when in locked position, cannot accidentally take place. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, the free end portion of the keeper plate II is rolled downwardly and inwardly, at l5, to provide a smooth manually engageable portion for the device.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the housing 5 of the device is preferably of a formation to follow the contour of the trigger guard 3 and this formation may be varied, if desired, to suit different trigger guards. A pivot pin l6 extends through the openings [0 and through the thickened portion of the trigger guard 3 and this pivot pin serves hingedly to connect the device with said trigger guard. The. cut away portion 9 of the curved wall 8, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, permits swinging of the trigger protector to clearly full open position so that danger of obstruction of the trigger by the device, when it is desired to pull the trigger, will be obviated.

When my improved trigger protector is mounted on a firearm and is disposed in locked position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, the firearm may be carried anywhere and may be left in open places without danger of injury to children and others who are prone to investigate attractive though sometimes dangerous articles. The device will be of great benefit to hunters when passing through thickets or over fences as danger of snagging the trigger on boughs or other projecting portions, with consequent danger to himself and companions, will be avoided. Furthermore, should the hunter suddenly come upon game, the trigger protector may be quickly released for freeing the trigger and permitting firing of the rifle.

Referring now to the modification of my invention as shown in Figure 4, the numeral l8 indicates a substantially trough-shaped spring metal body which is provided with a curved bottom wall l9 and upstanding parallel spring walls 20 and 2|. As will be seen, the bottom wall l9 terminates substantially medially of the height of the body so that the walls 20 and 2 l will be directed toward each other and will have a spring clipping action. The upper extremities of the walls are outwardly turned, at 22, to permit ready engagement of the device on a trigger guard, as will be explained. A finger nail slot 23 is formed in the outer surface of the walls 20 and 2| to permit ready manual engagement with.

the device.

In use, this form of the invention will be removably connected with the trigger guard and may be slipped thereon by engaging the walls 20and 2lat opposite sides of the guard and forcing the body upwardly onto the guard until the body entirely covers said guard. The tension of: the walls 20 and 2! will firmly clamp the device on the guard so that accidental displacement therefrom will be prevented. However, the device may be readily removed from the guard by simply pulling it downwardly for freeing the walls 20 and 2|. If it should be desired to increase the tension of the walls, it is only necessary to bend them toward each other, when the device is disconnected from the trigger guard. The objects and advantages of the modification are identical with those of the preferred form.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A shield for a gun trigger comprising a troughshaped body formed of resilient metal and open at its top' and ends and having abottom wall formed with upturned end portions and side walls integrally united to the bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof and extending upwardly above the bottom wall, said body being adapted to fit about a trigger guard in housing relation thereto for preventing accidental contact of a finger with a trigger, the side walls being tensioned toward each other to frictionally grip the trigger guard from opposite sides thereof when the shield is applied thereto and removably hold the shield in position about the trigger guard, upper marginal portions of the side walls; being bent outwardly to provide lips serving to. facilitate movement of the shield. intoplace about a trigger guard, and lower portions of the side walls having their outer faces formed with finger nail receiving slots to facilitate removal of the shield.

WILKIE M. DRAKE. 

